PM determined to send refugees back
NEW DELHI, JUNE 17 – The Prime Minister today reiterated India’s determination to send back Bangladesh refugees as soon as normality returned there, reports UNI.
“I am just going to send them back, I am determined to send them back “, Mrs. Gandhi told a meeting of economic editors.
In her hour-long meeting Mrs. Gandhi was mainly asked questions relating to the problem arising out of the influx of refugees from East Bengal which she said had become a “tremendous burden” on India – a burden no other country in the world had to bear at such a short time on such a massive scale.
Mrs. Gandhi conceded that India would have to spend a great deal on these refugees; these problems were being sorted out by the Planning Commission and other departments. It would also depend upon the scale of assistance India received from the international community. So far, India had received only $36 million, she said.
Mrs. Gandhi was asked whether she would think of issuing an appeal for austerity by the States and seek donations in view of the meager budgetary provision of Rs. 60 crores and paltry international response in terms of assistance for the refugees.
Mrs. Gandhi said, “I have begun it with the State privately. We are working out a programme also.”
She emphasized the role of the Indian Press in this respect.
The Prime Minister said there had been no difference in India’s attitude towards Bangladesh. Right from the beginning. India had been demanding a political settlement. “I am sure if all the world Powers had put the requisite pressure earlier it (settlement) could have been possible. I think the possibility now is more remote” she added.
Mrs. Gandhi said so far India was concerned a political settlement meant an agreement with Bangabandhu Mujibur Rahman and his Awami league colleagues who had won the recent elections. “What they wanted was for them to decide.” she added.
But what happened in East Bengal would have a great impact on the eastern region because of the historical and cultural ties between the people in that area Mrs. Gandhi said.
Our Special Correspondent in New Delhi adds : Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, denied here today to have said that conditions were satisfactory for the return of refugees to Bangladesh.
He was answering questions by newsmen as he came out of a 36-minute meeting here this evening with the Prime Minister.
He said: “I have nowhere given any statement like this. Someone must have quoted me out of context.”
Asked if the UN would guarantee the safe return of the refugees. Prince Sadruddin said it was very difficult for the UN to give guarantees within the borders of a sovereign independent State “I can only try in a humanitarian way”, he added.
“The return of the refugees” he said, “depends on conditions in Pakistan and not on my talks” (with the Prime Minister).
The Prime Minister, it is learnt, had explained to him the real situation in Bangladesh and the attitude of India. She had stressed the problem arising out of atrocities and butchery being perpetrated in Bangladesh which she had stated must be stopped and conditions created for the safe return of refugees.
The Prince on his part had told her of his visit to some of the refugee camps near Calcutta and that he had been impressed with the arrangements made for the refugees by the Government of India and organizations behind it.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 18.06.1971